Rotary snowplow for driveways, sidewalks, etc.



Jane 2, 1951 M. GARLAND ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1945 Jam 1951 M. GARLAND ROTARYSNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29,1945 m l/m d z/ M/d Z 7% 9 m W M W W W m i 2 02 /A i/M w 4 m 114? Jan.1951 M. GARLAND ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC

Filed March 29, 1945 4 SheetsSh eet 4 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNI'E'EDSTATES PTET ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC.

This invention relates to a power plow of the so-called rotary type formoving and discharging snow and other material from a surface. Theinvention relates particularly to a comparatively small, compact,self-contained unit of the class described which is particularly welladapted for removal of snow and other material from driveways, yards andsidewalks and which in the form disclosed, is adapted to be guided andcontrolled by an operator walking behind the device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact. economicalrotary plow of high capacity which will pick up and remove a quantity ofsnow or other material in its operation, while simultaneously windrowingthe material at the sides of the path or swath out.

A further object is the provision of an efficient rotary snow plowwherein the improved construction of the rotor and its relationship toits housing, mold board and other snow guiding means, produces a veryefficient and rapid cutting and rearward movement of the snow or othermaterial as well as a rapid disintegration and loosening of the materialand materially reduces the re uisite power for handling and removing apre-determined amount of material in a predetermined time as contrastedwith devices of the prior art. The said advantages are obtained throughthe construction of a rotor comprising radial blades of considerabledepth having leadin edges arranged generally in the periphery of aforwardly and horizontally extending cone and curved laterally in thedirection of revolution of the rotor and related with the rotor housingand mold board or material-guiding means to produce subsequentexpansion. and loosening of the snow and other material upon enteringthe rotor housing whereby compaction and clogging of the rotor iseliminated. The cutting of the accumulated material by the individualrotor blades and the uniform distribution of the material centrifugallyand uniformly throughout the depth of the tips of the rotor blades, isalso a very important factor in producing the high capacity of mydevice.

Another object is the provision of a self-contained rotary plow unitmounted on traction wheels and provided with a motor which by suitabletransmission mechanism, drives the traction wheel and which also drivesthe rotor, the device being readily controllable and guided by anoperator who walks behind the device grasping rearwardly extendinghandles.

'iore specifically, itis an object to provide a compact rotary plow ofthe class described 2 wherein the motor, the drive transmissionmechanism, the rotor and the material-guiding and moving parts are allsupported from a single axle supported upon two wheels with the cuttingblade and mold board disposed forwardly of the axle and balanced withthe rearwardly disposed motor and other mechanism whereby the entireunit may be bodily swung around the axle to clear obstructions and alsobreak snow drifts and masses of accumulated material.

It is another object to provide in combination with said pivotalrelation of the plow unit to the axle, resilient means of supportdisposed rearwardly of the axle whereby the operator may depress orjiggle the rearwardly extending handle to reciprocate or vibrate theleading edge of the' blade as well as the leading edges of the rotor forbreaking up accumulated material such as drifts.

A further object is the provision of a rotary plow of the classdescribed. wherein the speed of the motor, the driving of the tractionwheels and the accurate and instant guiding of the plow may be instantlycontrolled by the operator walking behind the unit, some distancerearwardly from the front of the plow.

t is'another object to provide a rotary plow of the class describedmounted on a single axle and including a snow moving and dischargingrotor and utilizing pneumatic or other highly resilient wheels forsupport of the axle, disposed some distance rearwardly from the bladeand rotor of the plow, whereby with a rearwardly extending handle, saidresilient wheels may be tensioned by bodily swinging of the unit by thehandle in a rearward direction and thereafter released to producesuccessive more or less vertical reciprocating movements of the bladeand rotor for breaking up drifts and accumulated material.

A further object is the provision in such a device, of an independentmounting for the rotor as contrasted with the rotor housing whereby aflexible or floating relationship of the rotor in the housing isobtained to enable congestion within the housing to be relieved and toenable small hard chunks or particles to pass through the plow withoutclogging the same.

-- Another object is to provide in such a device,

snow moving and guiding means which will overcome side draft in thetravel of the plow and which will further enable the material at theside or sides of the out to be windrowed. In this connection, I preferto provide means in the nature of a reversible fiareboard applicable toeither right or left side of the plow for guiding material from ahead ofsaid plow inwardly and thereby making the cut up to the sides of abuilding or other vertical wall.

Another object is the provision in combination with the unit proper ofan improved chute construction of polygonal cross-sectional shape in itsattachment portion to the rotor housing whereby snow may be dischargedby adjustment of the chute in various related positions in a number ofdifferent directions. My improved chute may be lifted and adjusted byhand and is adapted for both casting and loading material in itsdischarge.

A further object is the provision of a shearpin or equivalent so re'atedwith the rotor and the driving mechanism for the traction wheels as toprotect the rotor, the reduction gears and the various elements in thedrive transmission to the wheels in the event the rotor or the wheelsencounter obstacles or hard chunks of material which cannot be cut ordisintegrated by the rotor.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the plow looking at the same from oneside and at the rear thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation, some parts being shown in differentpositions in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plow looking at the same from thefront;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the plow, some parts being broken away andothers shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation showing the discharge chute;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. '7, as indicatedby the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation, some parts being broken away andothers shown in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, a plow for moving snow or other material isshown comprising a frame including spaced, longitudinally extendingmembers It, and while these members might be various y formed, in theembodiment of the invention illustrated, they are shown as angle barshaving their angles directed toward each other and their top sidessubstantially horizontal. As shown in Fig. '7, members h) are offsetdownwardly intermediate their ends and the front and rear portionsthereof extend substantially horizontally. Another member I I, alsoillustrated as an angle bar, fits against the downwardly and rearwardlyinc ined ends of the bars I a and is secured thereto in any suitablemanner as by we ding, said bar I I extending transversely of the plowand at right angles to members H). A plate or b ade I2 extendstransversely of the plow in front of member II, the same being disposedat an acute angle to the horizontal and having a front edge lZa adaptedto move along or in contact with the surface to be cleared. Plate I2 issecured to member II and a plate 13 is disposed between plate I2 andmember ll, said plates being secured together in any suitable manner, asby rivets M. Plate 13, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 extends upwardlyand rearwardly and has a rear substantially horizontal portion 13a. (SeeFigs. 3 and 4.) A rotor casing l6 of generally cylindrical form issupported from its lower end on and above plate 13, the

same having its axis extending substantially longitudinal y of the plowand disposed substantially centrally of the plow transversely thereof.At one side at its top and extending tangentially thereof, casing l6 hasa discharge neck I! extending upwardly therefrom and this neckparticularly adjacent its top is of polygonal shape in cross section,the same being specifically shown as octagonal. (See Figs. 3 and l.)Disposed at each side of casing I6 is an upwardly extending snow guidingplate I8. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, each plate 18 extends verticallyand has an inner side I811, which at its top and bottom extends inwardlyslightly toward the center of casing [5 and which at its central portioninclines slightly outwardly, said central portion, as shown in Fig. 2,extending somewhat inwardl of the perimeter of easing [6. Each plate H)has an outer bafile side 18b which slopes outwardly and rearwardly, theouter vertical edge thereof being substantially flush with the end ofplate l2. The plates 18 extend along plate l3 at their lower ends andeach has a substantially horizontally disposed triangular portion at itstop from which projects a portion or lug I8c extending rearwardly aroundthe outer side of casing I6 and secured thereto in any suitable manner,as by welding. The inner flange pates I8 engage the snow and move thesame inwardly but their outer sides 18b act to move the snow intowindrows at the sides of the plow.

A reversible flare board attachment is provided comprising a plate l9adapted to be at tached to either of the plates [8. Flare board 19 isshown as attached to the plate I8 at the left hand side of the plow, asseen in Figs. 2 and 4. Flare board l9 extends vertically and is foldedinto substantially triangular form in horizontal cross section, the samehaving a snow guiding side 19a extending forwardly and outwardly to thefront of plate l8. Plate [9 has an outer or bracing side [9d extendingsubstantially longitudinally of the plow and said outer side has a bentportion we at its rear end. Plate l9 has a side lab extending a ong theouter side of plate It. Lugs or clips 20 are secured adjacent the topand bottom of the side 19a and hook over the front of pate l8. Plate I 9is also secured by headed bolts 22 extending through the rear portion ofplate [8 and through the portions I9d and I of plate l9, said boltsbeing shown as provided with wing nuts 23. Plates 24 are disposed ateither side of casing l6 having portions above and below said casingextending inwardly toward the same. If desired, plates 24 could beformed as part of plates l8. With the attachment of pate I9 the plow canbe moved along close to a wall and the outer s de [9b of plate l9 wi lmove close to and parallel to said wall and the guiding side [9a willmove the snow to plate l8 and into the rotor casing. A plate 24a isdisposed above and slopes toward casing I6.

A member 25 extends between members H1 at the rear ends and across thetops thereof, said member being illustrated as an angle bar having oneflange secured to the tops of members NJ and its other flange extendingvertically and secured to a vertical member 26. Member 25 has a topsurface on which rests a pair of members or blocks 28. Members 28 extendforwardly and rearwardly and support brackets 29 respectively which havearcuate portions 29a fitting around the lower side of the casing of amotor 30. While motor 32 might be of various types, it is preferably ofthe internal combustion type. Brackets 29 are secured to members 26 and28 by bolts 3| and 32. Motor 30 is only diagrammatically illustrated,the same having a fuel tank 30a. A bracket 33 is provided at one side ofthe plow, the same resting on and being secured to the top of one member[0, and the same has secured thereto a cap bracket 34. Brackets 33 and34 are connected by the headed bolts 35. Said brackets form the bearingfor an axle 35 to the ends of which are secured wheels 31, the samebeing equipped with pneumatic tires. As shown in Fig. 4, wheels 3'! havehubs 31a secured to the reduced ends of axle 36 by keys 38 respectively.Washers 39 are disposed on an axle 38 at the outer ends of hubs 31a andare held in place by nuts Ml threaded on the reduced ends of axle 33.

Disposed within casing l6 and mounted slightly eccentrically thereof isa snow cutting and moving rotor 32. Rotor 32 comprises a hub 42a ofelongated form having projecting therefrom radially circumferentiallyspaced ribs 421). Plates or blades 420 are secured to ribs 42b adjacenttheir inner edges by the headed and nutted bolts 42c. Said rotorincludes a circular rear plate or disc 42 extending perpendicular to theaxis of hub 42a and disposed in slight eccentric relationship to theinner periphery of rotor casing I6. As shown, the axis of hub 42a and ofthe rear disc 42f, is olfset from the axis of housing l8 upwardly and tothe right when viewed in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 along a 45 angle with thehorizontal. This causes the clearance between the cylinder described bythe tips of the rotor blades in operation and the inner periphery ofcasing 16 to pro gressively increase in the direction of rotation from apoint just beyond the tangential outlet of discharge neck ll to a pointjust below the communication opening between rotor housing It and neck11. This particular eccentric relationship is for the purpose of increaing clearance between the revolving rotor and the casing as the bladetips approach the discharge position, thereby preventing clogging orcompaction of material near the discharge. The improved construction andshape of my rotor is particularly important in increasing the capacityand lessening the power requirements of my device. The forward edges ofseveral radial rotor blades 42c are disposed generally at acute anglesto the axis of hub Ma and lie in the general periphery of a forwardlyand horizontally extending cone. Said forward edges are curved laterally(as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) in the direction of revolution of the rotor.The rear edges of the blades 420 are rigidly connected as by weldingwith the rear disc or plate 4 1. The forward and laterally curved edgesof the rotor blades are constructed, by cutting and bending or by anyother suitable manner, to define in each blade, a plurality of forwardlyprojecting teeth 42g, each of said blades having a tooth disposed injuxta-position to the hub 42a and having one or more intermediate teeththe ends of which. because of the general conical relationship of theforward edges. are disposed rearwardly and radially outward of the firstmentioned teeth.

' Said radial rotor blades 420 have substantial depth, preferably inexcess of two-thirds the radial length of each blade from the axis ofthe rotor. These blades, because of their conical leading edgearrangement and the described curving and due to theforwardly'projecting teeth, produce very eilicient results in cutting,disintegrating, removing and uniformly distributing by centrifugalaction, the material engaged as will hereafter be more specificallyexplained.

Motor 30 has a driving shaft 361) extending through and fitting in hub42a, which shaft carries the rotor 42. Rotor casing It has a rearsubstantially vertical wall I 5a which is apertured for the passage ofhub d201,. Shaft 30b is connected to hub 42a adjacent the front endthereof by a headed shear pin 44. As shown in Fig. 6, pin 44 isillustrated as being split in one end and having the portions thereofbent in opposite directions about hub 42a. Pin 44 will have a desireddegree of frangibility so that it will shear off if excessive stress isplaced on rotor 42. A washer 45 is disposed at the outer end of shaft 3%and extends in front of hub 42a to prevent the same from moving off ofshaft 3%, said washer being held in place by a headed bolt 46 extendingtherethrough and threaded into the end of shaft 3%.

Hub 42a has secured thereto at the rear of wall Mia, and in any suitablemanner as by the set screw 48, the hub of a sprocket 49. A chain 53 runsover sprocket 49 and over another sprocket 51 secured to a shaft 52mounted in a bearing sleeve 54 having a cylindrical portion fitting intothe bore of a portion 56a of a transmission casing designated generallyas 55 and mounted on one of the members ill and the member 25. Saidcasing has a lug 551; secured by the headed bolt 5? to one side of thecasing of motor 39. Bearings 53 are held in spaced relation by a sleeve55. Bearing sleeve 54 has an end flange engaging the end of portion 56aand is held in place by a plate 58 secured by circumferentially spacedheaded bolts 59 extending therethrough and'into the flanged end ofportion 56c. Shaft 52 has a half clutch at secured to its rear end. Ashaft 6! is journaled in bearing 82 carried in a bearing block 53disposed in a bore at the end of portion 555a opposite plate 58, andsaid bearing block 63 has a flange engaging the end of portion 55a andsecured by circumferentially spaced headed bolts 64 extendingtherethrough and through a plate 65' at the end of portion 56a. BoltsE34 are threaded into the flanged end of portion 56a. Shaft 6! hasslidable thereon a clutch member 6! having a peripheral groove intowhich extend clutch blocks 58 carried in the respective ends of a clutchfork 69 extending upwardly through an opening in the top of portion 56aand being secured by a screw H! to a rod ll which is slidable in boresin the ends of a bracket '62 having side flanges secured to the top ofportion 560. by the headed bolts l3. Clutch member 5'! has a half clutchat one end adapted to be engaged with the ha clutch Bil, said halfclutches having circumferentially spaced teeth adapted to beinterengaged or meshed. The end of shaft 6! opposite bearing 52 issupported in a bore in the end of shaft 52. Shaft 6i projects beyondplate 65 and has secured thereto a double sprocket l5 held in place bya. collar '55 in turn held in place by a nut 77 threaded on the reducedend of shaft 6i. A pair of chains 78 run over sprocket l5 and overanother double sprocket '39 secured to the end of shaft 86. Shaft 59 isjournaled in spaced bearings 8i, illustrated as of the ball type, one ofwhich is carried in a bearing sleeve 82 fitting in a bore in the rearend of a portion of transmission casing 56. Sleeve 82 has a flange atits end and is held in place by circumferentially spaced headed bolts 83extending through said flange and through a plate 8 at the end ofportion 5527 into which portion bolts 83 are threaded. The other bearing8| is mounted in a bore in portion 56a, said'bearings being held inspaced relation by a sleeve 84a. Sprocket I9 is held in place by acollar 86 in turn secured by a nut 81 threaded on the reduced end ofshaft 89. The bearing portion 562) has an end plate 560 which has a hub56d forming a bearing for the other end of axle 36. Within portion 58baxle 36 has secured thereto a beveled gear 89 with which meshes abeveled pinion 90 secured to one end of shaft 80 and engaging one of thebearings 8!. The transmission casing 55 includes a rear cover member 56cenclosing chains F8 and adjacent parts and having a lug 561 secured by aheaded bolt 85 to a portion of the casing of motor 30.

The discharge neck I1 is embraced at its top by the lower end of a rigiddischarge chute 92 comprising a plate bent into hexagonal form andhaving outwardly extending flanges 92a at its adjacent ends connected bya bolt 93 shown as equipped with a wing nut 94. The discharge chute 92extends upwardly and laterally, as shown in Fig. 5. Said chute is openat its lower side, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. Chute 92 is providedwith handles I08 at the sides thereof and adjacent its lower end andsaid chute is supported upon a plurality of angular brackets I09 securedin any suitable manner, as by welding, to opposite sides of dischargeneck I'I. Chute 92 can be lifted and disconnected and reconnected withneck and in various positions relative neck I I so as to direct the snowor other material in different directions.

A pair of guiding handles II2, illustrated as formed from tubes orpipes, extend along the undersides of members Ill and are securedthereto respectively by pairs of U-bolts H3 extending through the topflanges of members I and equipped with nuts 3a. Handles II2 extendrearwardly and upwardly and at some distance in the rear of motor 3!!are connected by a cross bar II2a which projects beyond members H2 andis equipped with hand grips N21). The rod II has an apertured lug at itsrear end embraced by the bifurcated end of a rod H4 and secured theretoby a bolt H5. The rear end of rod H4 is provided with an apertured lugsecured by a bolt H6 to the end of one arm of a bell crank lever I I7pivotally mounted on a bolt I I3 extending through a lug or bracket H9on one of the handle members I I2. The other arm of bell crank lever H1is pivotally connected by bolt I to a rod IZI pivotally connected bybolt I22 to an intermediate point on a hand lever I23 having a hub whichis carried on and rotatable on cross bar 2:1. From said describedstructure, it will be seen that oscillation of handle I23 will move rodI2I, swing'bell crank lever II! and move rod I I4 to engage or disengagethe clutch member 61. The accelerator or throttle of motor 35 iscontrolled by a member such as a flexible rod extending through theconduit I25 which extends along one of the handles I I2, being held inplace by a collar I20. Said conduit I25 extends to a small bracket I21secured to cross bar I I2a. The said flexible rod can be reciprocated bya handle I28 pivotally mounted on a bracket I29 secured to cross barII2a to accelerate or decelerate the motor 30.

A pair of resilient skids I39 are secured to the undersides of theforward portions of members I0 respectively by the headed and nuttedbolts I 3I. Skids I38 extend rearwardly of wheels 31 and have downwardlyand upwardly curved rear ends, the convex sides of which engage thesurface to be cleared. Skids I are made of resilient material and act toswing the plow about the axis of wheels 31 thus tending to hold thefront end of plate I2 in engagement with the surface to be cleared.

In operation the motor 30 will be operated and this will rotate shaft 3%which will in turn through the pin 44, rotate the rotor 42 at highspeed. The operator will stand at the rear of the plow and grasp thehandles I I2b. The operator can reach throttle lever I28 with hisfingers and can accelerate motor 30 as desired. When it is desired tohave the plow move forward the operator will swing handle I23 which iswithin convenient reach of his hand and will engage clutch 61. Power isthen transmitted from sleeve 4211 through sprocket 49, chain 50 andsprocket 5I to shaft 52. When clutch 67 is engaged, shaft GI will bedriven together with sprocket 15, chain I8, sprocket I9 and shaft 80.Shaft 8!] drives beveled pinion which in turn drives beveled gear 89 sothat axle 36 and wheels 3'! will be guided as desired by the operatorgrasping the handles I I2b.

The snow or other material will be engaged by blade I2 and movedupwardly and rearwardly toward rotor 42. The snow will likewise beengaged by plates I8 and 24 and will be guided inwardly toward rotor 42.The snow will be engaged by the foremost teeth 42g on the blades whichare adjacent the center thereof and will be cut and broken up. As therotor moves into the snow the outer teeth 429 will also engage the snowand cut and disintegrate the same. The snow or other material travelstoward the rear of the rotor and the rotation of the same increases thevelocity of said snow or material and the centrifugal force causes it tomove radially of the blades 42c until it reaches a point where it isthrown outwardly and di charged through the chute IT. The teeth 42g andlaterally curved forward edges of the rotor blades effectively cut anddisintegrate the snow or other material even when con iderably compactedor frozen and the relation hip of the forward edges of said blades,lying generally in the periphery of a forwardly extending cone, causesthe particles or small chunks of material in the rapid revolution of therotor to be distributed more or less uniformly in the centrifu aldischarge. Thus it will be seen that material cut or engaged by thecentral forward portion of the rotor is moved and discharged in a curvedpath extending rearwardly and outwardly throughout the greater portionof the depth of the blade whereas material cut by the outermost teeth ofthe blades or entering the blades adjacent the outer portion of therotor is centrifugally moved faster than said first mentioned materialand is centrifugally thrown out from adjacent the forward portion of theblade tips. Thus, quite a uniform centrifugal discharge of material iseffected with mv rotor throughout the lengths of the blade tips andthere is no compacting of material rearwardly again t the back plate 01'disc 42 which is present with many conventional rotors now used forplowing snow. The snow is discharged with such velocity that it movesalong the upper side of chute 92 and is delivered to one side of theplow in the desired direction. The fact that the plates I8 and 24 extendsomewhat inwardly of the casing I6 and rotor 42 at the central portionthereof gives opportunity for the snow to expand somewhat after passingthe inner portions of said plates and this acts to keep the snow frompacking at said points. The plow is swingable about the axis of axle 36and the operator can depress the handles H2 against the tension of theskids lei] and raise the front end of the plow when it is desired tomove it rearwardly or to different places.

' The drive ior the wheels is transmitted by shaft 301) through the pin44 and the hub or sleeve 42a of the rotor and through the reductiongearing in the gear case so that if the pin fi l shears off the drive tothe wheels as well as to the rotor, will be discontinued. Thus it willbe seen that with the relationship of the shear pin 44 to the hub of therotor, the driving connections between the hub and the clutch mechanismand gear reduction mechanism, that said shear pin protects the rotor,the motor, the driving connections, gear reduction mechanism and axledrives from stripping or destruction either when an obstacle isencountered by the wheels or when chunks of hard material or obstaclesare encountered by the rotor. l'he deflectors or plates [8 and 24 at thesides of the plow and of the rotor act to direct the snow into the rotorand also to balance the side draft of the plow. Due to the, polygonalcross-sectional attachment shape of the discharge chute 82 and thelightness in weight of said chute, the same may be positioned in any oneof a number oi angulated relations to the rotor casing whereby snow orother material may be cast or loaded at either side of the plow or tothe rear in various directions. In connection with the casting of snowfrom the chute the speed of the motor of course determines thecentrifugal force of the rotor and consequently, the force of thedischarge in chute 92.

My improved structure includes a number of structural factors all ofwhich contribute to the prevention of clogging of the rotor and itsdischarge and the compacting of snow or other material at the back ofthe rotor. The slight restriction in the entrance to the rotor casingprovided by the inward bulging or positioning of the rear inner edges ofthe bafile boards [8 and the flare board is as well as the slightlyeccentric relation of the rotor axis to the casing, provides for someexpansion and loosening of the material after it enters the rotor casingand again as it is thrown centrifugally outward through the dischargepassage. As a further factor, the motor shaft 30b which extendsforwardly into the rotor casing and drives the rotor through shear pinconnection with its hub lZa, has a limited floating relationship withthe rotor housing. This is due to the fact that rotor housing It ismounted from its base upon the low hung frame of the device and motor 36is independently mounted at its base upon the rear portion of the axlesupported frame. Thus, between the upper and central portion of themotor and the central portion of the rotor housin 58 there is provided acertain amount of relative flexibility. This is further accentuated bythe elongated unsupported driving portion of motor shaft 3% which isconstructed of steel or other resilient material and when congestion isproduced at any point along the periphery of the rotor this'is relievedto a considerable extent by slight bodily displacement of the axis ofthe rotor relatively to the independently supported rotor casing 16.

The simultaneous snow removal action and snow windrowing action of mydevice is important in its effect upon the capacity of the plow as wellas in overcomng side draft. When the flare plate I9 is not used, asubstantial amount of snow is guided to the rotor, disintegrated andremoved while snow or other material is windrowed at both sides of theplow. When the flare board It is used, material is windrowed at one sideof the plow while all engaged material at the other side of the plow ismoved inwardly to the rotor casing. With the flare board attached ineither of its reversed positions, the plow may cut close to the side ofa vertical wall.

Another important Ieature of my improved structure is the provision forbreaking up massed or drifted snow or other material. This, 1ikew.se isaccomplished by several structural features or factors. To begin with,the axial mounting of the entire structure on pneumatic or compressibleand highly resilient tires in combination with the cutting blade E2disposed considerably forward of the axle and in combination with theguide handles Ilia, disposed some distance rear- Wardly or the axle andalso upwardly therefrom, permits the plow when b.ade I2 is engaged byheavy drhts or massed material, to be rocked by iggling the handles,fulcrumrng to some extent at least, upon the engaged blade edge l2. Therearward pulling of the handles with the blade engaged, tends to breakthe snow upwai dry and also compresses the resilient tires and tensionsthe same. The subsequent release of the handles produces a slightbouncing action and downward pro ection of the b-ade further breakingthe units. Repeated jiggling of the handles, with the aid of thepneumatic tires thererore, is an important factor in expediting thetravel of the plow through heavy drifts and he.ps to disintegrate thesame. ihe resilient skids I38 in combination with the bodily swinging ofthe plow upon the central transverse axle, also are important factors inproducing a vibratory action of the blade edge for breaking driits andmassed material.

Another important advantage is obtained by the combination of thesupporting frame mounted on the wheel supporting axle and having theinclined, transverse cutting blade d.sposed some distance iorwardy ofthe axle, to wit, when the plow travels into heavily massed materialsuch as a compacted drilt, the iorward movement of the vehicle causesthe inclined cutting blade to work downwardly, tehsioning the pneumatictires when the handles are grasped by an operator and held downwardlyand putting heavy traction on the tires to increase the tractive effortwhen it is most needed.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A plow for moving snow or other material having in combination, asnow removing rotor at the front of sad p-0w, a plow blade adapted tomove along the suriace to be cleared, a single pair of aligned wheelssupporting said plow, resilient skids at the rear of said wheels adaptedto engage said surface and acting to hold said b.ade in engagement withsaid surface, means at the rear of said plow adapted to be grasped.

by the operator for rocking said plow about the axis of sad wheels toraise said portion and a motor mounted on said plow for driving saidwheels and said rotor.

2. A plow for moving snow or other material having in combination, asnow moving rotor disposed medially transversely of said plow, a casingextending about said rotor, means extending about said rotor at thefront thereof and sloping toward the same for directing snow thereinto,a discharge chute extending upwardly from said casing, only onewheel-equipped axle at the rear of said casing for supporting said:plow, means mounted on said plow for driving said axle, wheels androtor, means at the rear of said plow adapted to be held. by theoperator for guiding said plow and resilient skid means. at the rear ofsaid wheels adapted, to engage the ground to urge said casingdownwardly.

3. A rotary plow for snow and other material having in combination, asupport mounted on traction elements, a rotor casing mounted forwardlyon said support, a, motor mounted. rear-. wardly on said support, gearreduction mechanism also mounted on said support, driving connectionsbetween said gear reduction mechanism and said traction elements, a,driving shaft extending forwardly from said. motor into said, rotorcasing, a rotor mounted on said driving shaft within said casing drivingconnections between said rotor and said gear reduction mechanism and ashear pin connection between said rotor and said shaft adapted toprotect said rotor, said motor, said gear reduction mechanism and saiddrive connections when an obstacle is encountered either by said rotoror bysaid. traction elements.

4. In a rotary plow structure, a frame, a motor mounted on said frameand having a drive shaft extending therefrom, a rotor mounted on thedrive shaft, and a casing enclosing, the rotor and mounted on said framein spaced relation to and independently of said motor, said recitedparts being sufficiently resilient to permit of limited bodily shiftingbetween the rotor and casing when the load pressure between the rotorblades and casing becomes excessive, whereby excessive load pressurebetween the rotor blades and casing at any point about the circumferenceof the casing will be relieved by an automatic increase in the spacingbetween the rotor blades. and easing at that point.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said motor and said rotorcasing are both mounted from the lower ends thereof and wherein theextending portion of said drive shaft upon which said rotor is mounted,is unsupported and is constructed of hard, resilient material.

6. A rotary snow plow having in combination,

a supporting frame mounted for travel over the ground, amaterial-removing rotor supported from the forward portion of said framewith its axis disposed substantially longitudinally thereof, said rotorhaving a plurality of substantially radially arranged blades in the formof plates having stepped forward longitudinal edges laterally curvedfrom the bodies thereof in the direction of revolution of said rotor,said stepped edges being defined for each blade by a plurality ofsubstantially parallel lines, all extending at sharp acute angles to theaxis of said rotor and by lines extending parallel to the rotor axis toform in said rotor, a plurality of forwardly extending teeth.

7. A plow for moving snow and other material, having in combination aframe, a pair of axially aligned wheels for supporting said frame, the.axis of said wheels extending transversely and medially of said frame, asnow-removing rotor mounted at the front of said frame, a plow blademounted just forwardly of said rotor and adapted to move along thesurface to be cleared, resilient, compressible means disposed rearwardlyof said wheels depending from said frame to engage said surface,assisting in the support of said frame and acting to. hold said plowblade in approximate engagement with said surface, rearwardly extendinghandle means at the rear of said frame whereby said frame and plow maybe rocked about the axis of said wheels and a motor mounted on said plowfor driving said rotor.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and driving connections betweensaid motor and said wheels.

9-. The structure set forth in claim '7 and said handle means.comprising a. pair of spaced upwardly and rearwardly inclined handlesadapted to be depressed against the. resistance of said resilient meansto rock said plow and lift said blade.

10. A plow for picking up and moving snow and other material having in,combination a frame, av single pair of axially aligned wheels forsupporting said frame, the axis of said wheels extending transversely tothe travel of the plow, a snowcutting and moving rotor disposedsubstantially centrally of said frame with its axis extendinglongitudinally of the line of travel of the plow, a cylindrical rotorhousing surrounding said rotor and having an upwardly extendingsubstantially tangential discharge, said plow having a substantiallyrectangular front face communicating with the open front of saidhousing, said face at the forward end of said plow including anupstanding wall surrounding the forward open end of said rotor housingand concaved rearwardly to assist in directing material into said rotor,said face being also composed of a substantially fiat blade or plate atthe bottom of the plow inclined from its forward edge rearwardly and anupstanding substantially fiat plate disposed above said blade andsloping inwardly from its outer edge in advance of said rotor housingand a second substantially flat upstanding plate at the opposite side ofsaid rotor sloping rearwardly from its forward edge to windrow materialat one side of the plow but having a forward edge constituting an apexat the front of said housing for cooperating with said first-mentionedplate to direct material into said rotor, said first-mentioned inwardlysloping plate being removable and when removed exposing a rearwardlysloping plate of complemental nature to the last mentioned plate.

MATHER GARLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'In. NTS- Number Name Date 395,548 Corbett Jan. 1, 18891,345,438 Fricker July 6, 1920 1,483,586 Larson Feb. 12, 1924 1,552,714Linzy Sept. 8, 1925 1,577,561 Chiles Mar. 23, 1926 1,763,373 SchnellJune 10, 1930 1,844,706 Wandscheer Feb. 9, 1932 1,889,667 Klauer Nov.29, 1932 1,932,928 Frisch Oct. 31,1933 2,151,491 Washburn Mar. 21, 19392,194,297 Drumm Mar. 19, 1940 2,315,007 Morse et a1 Mar. 30, 19432,329,372 Hitch Sept. 14,1943

